How Cancun Supercharged Its Recovery
Skift Take
Mexico’s risky policy to stay open while other countries closed during the pandemic has paid off for the state of Quintana Roo. The state wisely used the time to hone its brand as more than a beach-going destination and expand its air accessibility long term. The payoff is evident in recent surging tourism numbers.
While other destinations are slowly coming back to 2019 levels, one destination seems to be flying past theirs. There’s been a tourism surge in Cancun and surrounding spots; just look at traffic at Cancun International Airport. In June, 14 percent more passengers flew through the airport than in 2019. This is at a time when very few airports have reached pre-pandemic level passenger traffic.
It’s not only air traffic that’s impressive. Hotels are filled up during the summer. “We’re out of space,” said G Adventures Vice President of Product Yves Marceau. “Getting space has proven to be difficult.” By April, 90 percent of Cancun’s hotels were booked.
A big share of those arrivals aren’t just goin
